Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Is It Really Christmas, or Just Winter? What Narnia Teaches Us About the Awe of Christmas

,Thanks to my friend Adam Feldman for publishing this post Monday on his blog. Our family keeps a rather large collection of Christmas movies in the house, all of
which come out at this time of year. From classics like Rudolph
the Rednosed Reindeer and A Charlie Brown Christmas to
my personal favorite A Christmas Story, even
our Christmas tree reflects the season better when next to one of these flicks
projected on the flat screen TV that hangs on the wall next to it.

A
favorite Christmas movie in the Rainey house is The Chronicles of
Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, and at the request of our
children, we have already seen this one three times this season. Mom
and Dad are happy to oblige this request, and not just because of the family
entertainment value. By God’s grace, we have already seen our oldest
son meet Jesus, and we do all we can to constantly expose our two younger
children to the Gospel. Narnia is yet another way we can
introduce spiritual themes into our children’s lives.

In fact, each time I think about the true meaning behind the metaphor, I
find myself quite emotional. Yet this Christmas season, one line taken from the
book struck me as particularly profound. And as I continue to ponder the true
focal point of this season, I understand the tragedy of living a life reflected
by the setting described by the faun Mr. Tumnus, in which it is "always
winter, but never Christmas."

Of course, the tale is fictional, but C.S. Lewis intended his allegory to be
exactly that from the start. In fact, his goal was to be able to read the
entire story to a child, and simply say to the child at the end "Aslan is
Christ," resulting in the child understanding the Gospel of Jesus Christ
in its fullness. Consequently, the story rightly centers around the coming of the
great Lion and the fulfillment of the prophetic freeing of Narnia.

As much as we enjoyed the film, movie screens can never depict with the same
depth and precision what the human imagination can conceive with a book in
hand. For example, when Mr. Beaver tells of the coming of Aslan, there was no
possible way for movie makers to portray the following reaction by the
children:

At the name of Aslan each one of the children felt something jump in its
inside. Edmund felt a sensation of mysterious horror. Peter felt suddenly brave
and adventurous. Susan felt as if some delicious smell or some delightful
strain of music had just floated by her. And Lucy got the feeling you have when
you wake up in the morning and realize that it is the beginning of the holidays
or the beginning of summer.

In this part of his masterpiece, Lewis rightly captures the juxtaposed whole of
what should permeate the heart of a Christ-follower--delight and adventure,
excitement and horror--such are the appropriate extreme emotions in the
presence of the King of Kings!

Yet as believers approach the coming Christmas season, I fear that our emotions
might in fact be the opposite of that expressed by young Lucy. Rather than
feeling the holidays have begun because of the name of Christ, we feel the
obligatory pull to somehow recognize Christ because of the holidays. This not
only puts the "cart before the horse," it dishonors Him who is to be
adored above all things, and that at all times, not just at Christmas.

The lack of awe that many professing Christians have for the sovereign Christ
is a year-round phenomenon, but is amplified at this time of year, as so many
seem more impressed with the lights at Rockefeller Center than with the Light
of the World--more fearful of the prospect of stolen gifts than of the reality
of the Incarnate Word. Now is certainly the time of year to remember the
warning of Mr. and Mrs. Beaver. Responding to Lucy's question of whether this
Lion is "safe," Mr. Beaver asserts "if there's anyone who can
appear before Aslan without their knees knocking, they're either braver than
most or else, just silly.”

Both
book and movie also make clear that Christmas is inaugurated by the coming of
Aslan, and until his coming, the White Witch has cast a spell over all of
Narnia, so that it is "always winter, but never Christmas." Sounds like a familiar context.

When Santa Claus gets more attention than our Sovereign God, that isn't
Christmas, just winter!

When families merely tip their hats toward the Bethlehem manger on their way to
open gifts and commit gluttony, never again to pick up a Bible and reflect
deeply on how God Incarnate fulfills every redemptive promise that assures me
of an eternity in His presence, that isn't Christmas, just winter!

Christmas is because Jesus is! In Narnia, Father Christmas makes
his appearance in this fantasyland only after it is announced by the Beavers
that "Aslan is on the move." Without the coming Son of God, there is
nothing to celebrate. Conversely, because He has come, there is much to
celebrate!

Stand
at the manger. Meditate, as did Simeon, on the identity of this child. Tremble
with fear at the One who is infinitely more than a baby. Remember with
trepidation the words of Mr. Tumnus that "he isn't a tame lion."
Moreover, remember that He isn't a baby anymore, but that Christmas, in
remembering His first coming, be reminded of His promise to come again.

And in doing this, let your heart feel brave and adventurous. Let your soul
delight in the sweetness of His presence that Scripture tells us is the fullness
of a joy that cannot be duplicated by even the most tight-knit family. Most of
all, let your excitement over the coming holiday be fueled by the salvific
miracle of the incarnation. And know that the holidays have truly begun, not
because of parties, gifts, or even the presence of family . . . .

No comments:

About Joel Rainey

Dr. Joel Rainey is an imperfect, but growing follower of Jesus Christ, husband to Amy, father of three, and Lead Pastor at Covenant Church, Shepherdstown, West Virginia. He serves on the adjunct faculty of two seminaries, and the author of three books.